Crazy About Packaging: Conversations with the C.A.P. Pack

🛒 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack explores a question that influences nearly every purchase decision: what makes packaging feel sustainable? From glass jars and aluminum bottles to paper wraps and earthy colors, consumers make quick judgments about packaging every day. But do those first impressions actually match the environmental impact of the package? This episode tak...

🤖 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Joe Castagneri, Director of Software at AMP, to break down how AI is changing the way recycling systems work. From computer vision to robotic sortation, this episode looks at what actually happens inside a recycling facility and how smarter systems can recover more material without relying on...

♻️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Tamsin Ettefagh, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of Industry at PureCycle, to talk about one of the biggest questions in packaging today: how do we scale high-quality recycled material, especially for food applications? From advanced recycling to polypropylene supply challenges, this epis...

🎙️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a step back and revisit some of the packaging challenges that keep showing up again and again. From material swaps to recycling confusion to the realities of running high-speed packaging lines, these are the conversations that come up in almost every packaging project. Instead of chasing the latest tr...

🧪 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — unpack a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: food safety in packaging. Before a package hits a production line, let alone store shelves, it has to pass a series of tests, audits, and validations to make sure it’s safe. This episode breaks down what that process actually looks like, and why switching...

📦 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — kick off 2026 by reflecting on the year that just wrapped. What actually changed in packaging and sustainability in 2025? What still needs work? And what should brands be preparing for right now? From PCR availability to shifting regulations to consumer trust in recycling, this episode breaks down where we sa...

Crazy About Packaging: Season 3, Episode 4 – The C.A.P. Pack on the Move 🌍 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — reflect on what they’ve learned from working with packaging teams around the world. From Europe to South America, the team has spent so much time traveling, talking with manufacturers, and presenting at global packaging summits. One t...

🧃 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan, finally answer the questions they get asked most about ICPG’s flagship material: XPP. You’ve heard us talk about XPP before — but this time, we’re getting specific. What is it? Can it run on your current form fill seal line? How does it compare to PET? Why does it matter if it “snaps”? And what’s the deal with...

🌱 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Paige Greenberg, Sustainable Packaging Engineer at Plastic Ingenuity, to break down one of the most overused (and misunderstood) parts of packaging today: sustainability buzzwords. We’re talking about those words we see everywhere — recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, circular, reusable — an...

Crazy About Packaging: Season 3, Episode 1 – The Blunder Years 💥 Welcome back to a new season of Crazy About Packaging! In our Season 3 premiere, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a look back at some of the biggest packaging fails we’ve seen (and a few we’ve personally been part of). From melted PLA containers to packaging you need scissors to open, this episode is full of real-wo...

♻️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging , we’re joined by Nyssa Thongthai , Senior Project Manager at How2Recycle , to talk about one of the most confusing areas in packaging today: recycling. Why is it so difficult to know what can be recycled — and what’s actually being done to fix the problem? Nyssa shares her technical expertise from over a decade in polymer development and sustainable pac...

In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack take aim at one of the biggest sources of confusion in the industry: packaging misinformation. From dramatic headlines to misquoted studies, there’s no shortage of bad information floating around. This episode takes on 10 of the most common myths about plastics and sustainability (and explains what’s actually true). This isn’t about defending...

📦 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — dive into one of the most complex moves a packaging team can make: replacing materials. ⚙️ Whether it’s a shift from polystyrene to polypropylene or a move into molded fiber or paperboard, changing materials impacts everything from machinery to consumer experience. This episode breaks down why these changes h...

♻️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging , hosts Natalie and Jonathan are joined by Brittany LaValley, Vice President of Material Systems at The Recycling Partnership, to unpack how the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition is reshaping the future of polypropylene (PP) recovery. 🌟 From the unexpected story of how Brittany transitioned from fine arts to recycling innovation to the strategic moves b...

Crazy About Packaging: Season 2, Episode 8 – Using Life Cycle Analysis for Smarter, More Sustainable Packaging Decisions 📦 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack is joined by sustainability consultant Neil Shackleton to dig into the world of life cycle analysis (LCA). You’ve heard the term, but what does it actually mean for packaging — and why should brand owners and manufactu...

🗣️ How do words shape the way we think about plastics? In this episode of Crazy About Packaging , the C.A.P. Pack sits down with Dr. Joanna Gavins, a cognitive linguist from the University of Sheffield, to explore how language influences public perception of plastic, recycling, and sustainability. 🎧 Tune in to learn: How a study of 4.5 million words revealed a major disconnect between consumers,...

The conversation around microplastics is filled with myths—but what’s the real story? In this episode of Crazy About Packaging , Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan welcome back Dr. Chris DeArmitt, a leading plastics expert and independent environmental scientist, to separate fact from fiction. 🌍 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✔️ Are microplastics as harmful as the headlines suggest?✔️ How do media n...

🌍 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, we’re joined by Crystal Bayliss, Director of Strategy and Engagement at the U.S. Plastics Pact, to explore the evolving landscape of packaging regulations. Crystal shares her journey from procurement to sustainability leadership, offering valuable insights on regulatory changes, voluntary commitments, and industry collaboration. 🎧 This episode, discove...

🎙️ Welcome to the final Crazy About Packaging podcast of 2024! This episode is packed with insights into the year’s most influential packaging trends and the regulations shaping the sustainability landscape. 🌍 Join Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan as they review the biggest trends of 2024, including the rise of innovative materials, machine-learning in recycling, and global policy shifts. They also sh...

🎙️Welcome back to Crazy About Packaging! In this episode, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan are joined by Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer at the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), to explore the challenges and solutions for creating a circular economy for plastics in North America. Discover the myths surrounding recycling and what it really takes to make recycling effective across the U.S. 🌍 Kat...

Welcome back to Crazy About Packaging! In this episode, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan team up with food waste expert Angel Veza from ReFED to explore how packaging plays a crucial role in addressing the U.S. food waste crisis. Discover staggering statistics, innovative solutions, and learn how packaging can help reduce food waste, combat climate change, and save money. 🌍 Angel Veza, Senior Manager...

Season 2 kicks off with an exciting dive into the value of sustainable packaging assessments. In this episode, we’re joined by guest host Sarah Webber from Plastic Ingenuity, who walks us through how these assessments are transforming the industry by identifying sustainable, cost-effective packaging solutions. ♻️ In this month’s recycling trivia game, Natalie challenges Mike, Jonathan, and Sarah t...

Dive into the world of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with our hosts on Season One's final episode of the Crazy About Packaging podcast. This must-listen episode explores the innovative solutions that extend shelf life while maintaining food quality, making it perfect for anyone interested in food packaging technology and sustainability. ♻️ In this month’s recycling trivia game, Natalie c...

Welcome back to this month’s episode of Crazy About Packaging! 🎙️ Explore Form Fill and Seal (FFS) Packaging: This episode dives deep into the world of Form Fill and Seal (FFS) packaging. We'll break down the basics: feeding roll stock material, forming it into packaging shapes, filling it with products, and sealing to protect the contents. Learn why this efficient process is essential for mod...

Welcome back to this month’s episode of Crazy About Packaging!  🎙️ Explore Retort Processing: This episode dives deep into retort processing, answering the question, “What is retort packaging?” and exploring its modern applications in robust plastic containers like high-barrier polypropylene. Learn about the evolution from metal cans to today's advanced materials. 🏆 Award-Winning Innovation:...